These are my border pipes. The drones are by Robbie Greensitt of Heriot & Allan, laburnum with brass and imitation horn mounts. Chanter is a Garvie in mopane. The bellows are by C&F's own Jim (Schaefer).

Well.. as promised.. theis "G" set was made by Ian Corrigan of Deerness pipes in African blackwood, hawthorn, elm and silver. They weigh about three times as much as my Scottish smallpipes! Love the drone stops... very useful, as I couldn't reach the end of the low G drone to plug it anyway... handy to have that shut-off as well. The silver has come out a rather odd golden colour under the electric lights, but it should give you an idea.

Yes, I know I have a load of new pipes.
I pumped all the money from my uilleann sales back into other pipes.

This is another set of SSPs, or at least the wood, in bocote with blackwood mounts.
The wood has been resting for a while after boring, and Alec at Lauribeck pipes will start turning next week.
It should be an interesting looking set.

"Where is the inlet on the bellows? I just see a metal plate where the inlet would normally be. "

The wood on the back of the bellows is specially shaped to fit around the body. Therefore, it is thick at both ends, with a semi-circular curve making it thinner in the middle on the body side (does that make sense?). The inlet is set into the REAR of this piece of wood that forms the body side of the bellows. This therefore pulls air from behind me. Ian bored out a channel in the wood to take the air through this and into the bellows. I do find that with my SSPs that have the intake in the conventional position on the front of the bellows, that I can end up with loose clothing (sleeves) being sucked into the air inlet, so I love this new arrangement :^)

"Where is the inlet on the bellows? I just see a metal plate where the inlet would normally be. "

The wood on the back of the bellows is specially shaped to fit around the body. Therefore, it is thick at both ends, with a semi-circular curve making it thinner in the middle on the body side (does that make sense?). The inlet is set into the REAR of this piece of wood that forms the body side of the bellows. This therefore pulls air from behind me. Ian bored out a channel in the wood to take the air through this and into the bellows. I do find that with my SSPs that have the intake in the conventional position on the front of the bellows, that I can end up with loose clothing (sleeves) being sucked into the air inlet, so I love this new arrangement :^)

Alec of Lauriebeck pipes sent a picture of the chanters he has just finished for me.
Again, they are in bocote with blackwood mounts.
He made the A chanter with an interesting two-part design.
Apparently there wasn't a decent piece of wood in stock to do the full chanter and it reduces the chances of warping.

Very nice.

Mukade

_________________'The people who play the flat pipes usually have more peace of mind. I like that.'- Tony Mcmahon